The Reasons Buick Passed On the Avista

As we reported last month, Buick decided not to send the Avista into production. While the reason given at the time was due to not "enough enthusiasm for the concept," we had a sneaking suspicion there was more to that decision.

Sure enough, Automotive News chatted with Buick global brand chief Duncan Aldred who explained the Avista wasn't "a massive opportunity in China." There is also the matter of priorities of which projects should go ahead or not.

"Emotionally, you'd love to build it. I would buy one with my own money and put it in the garage," said Aldred.

"The trouble is, I'm never looking at only one project. I'm always looking at several. I've got to weigh the pros and cons of each. There are some strong contenders in that consideration."

Aldred also confirmed the rumor that the idea of Buick designers planning a four-door version of the Avista. This was first reported by Motor Trend in February

"We looked at that. We've even visualized it. It would look wonderful as a four-door as well," said Aldred.

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It is sad but true that companies can not easily sell coupes. You can call GM what ever you like but they are in business to make money and coupes outside the Camaro are a hard sell.

When Duncan is presented with a case where he could sell 50,000 2 door Avista models or he could sell 150,000 Coupe styled 4 door versions globally it is a no brainier for someone with his ass on the line.

You can call it gutless but it will be profitable and do much better than a coupe. Just look at how many CTS coupes sold and how many had to be discounted that were not V trim. You call it gutless but most people in the real world call it logical.

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Agreed with all, and you pretty much knew they wouldn't build it when they showed it. They make these coupes and convertibles to build excitement for the brand, but then when you never make on, it is a bit of a buzzkill. I think Cadillac needs a concept looking car more than Buick though.

Avista won't see production because it isn't a crossover. That was pretty clear from the start.

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Well it was not all that long ago people understood the show cars were just that show cars. Few complained that 98% of what was shown at Motorama was never made. Sure bits and parts of many cars did make production in other forms but people played with more reality that these cars were not producible as shown. Today most people are not that smart.

Second coupes are a hard sell globally anymore.

Third China loves large and sporty sedans more than even SUV/CUV models so if it were to be built a 4 door version would fit the their market well. It would also lend a good hand for lower volume models here and down under too.

May want to forget the big V8 engines as we will see more turbo engine along with Hybrid. China needs a smaller engine for taxes as do many other markets anymore.

The reason this car would have not made production is very clear from the start because it was a coupe. It had no B pillar, it had no ground clearance. The brakes are larger than most tire and wheel packages, the interior was printed, Finally it was made clear it was a show car done buy the design staff not the engineering department. It had little else to do with anything else.

As noted they are looking officially at a sedan version and that would fit globally and all the brands that are sharing. It also would be a high end car so making money would not be an issue at lower volumes.

Is the sedan a lock no but it has a better chance.

God Harley Earl would throw things at some of you because you just don't get what a show car really is. Some of you would complain that the X and Y Jobs of his were never put into production back in the old days.

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This should surprise no one. The Avista, as sexy as it is should in no way be a production vehicle until Buick and GMC shore up the rest of their line-ups in away that they go directly against their intended competition. Because they are in teh same sales channel.. their budgets are intertwined. The GMC brands needs to get behind the new Acadia and make sure that it is ready to go up against the GC.. while they are at it.. they need a Wrangler competitor.. Buick needs a hatch to compliment the Verano as the Cruze has with its hatch.

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Agreed with all, and you pretty much knew they wouldn't build it when they showed it. They make these coupes and convertibles to build excitement for the brand, but then when you never make on, it is a bit of a buzzkill. I think Cadillac needs a concept looking car more than Buick though.

Avista won't see production because it isn't a crossover. That was pretty clear from the start.

Electric and even the Turbo 4 engines as good as they are will never live up to the sound of a good old V8. Just watch the video of he Venom setting the convertible speed record as it passes by. No Tesla would ever sound that good.

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they could do this if they canceled the ATS coupe. The ATS coupe is the 'second ever G6' in terms of looks.....ATS coupe won't sell....but then again neither would this, but the Avista is better looking than the ATS coupe.

both tread on the Camaros property.

Not hardly any market for coupes. Can't make this a sedan either.....we already have a new Regal and Verano coming.

Electric and even the Turbo 4 engines as good as they are will never live up to the sound of a good old V8. Just watch the video of he Venom setting the convertible speed record as it passes by. No Tesla would ever sound that good.

Hell....I just saw Smokey and the Bandit for the umpteenth and even a horsepower choking crappy 1970s catalytic converter V8 sounds better than all of those engines mentioned, including the modern Chevy LS engine. (but the LS engine DOES sound goooooood) In some scenes, where the Trans Am is idling, you could hear her V8 engine gurgle....what a sound....and no...that is not Industrial Light and Sound Star Wars sound effects, it really was the Trans Am's 400 cubic inch V8 making those wonderful sounds!

Electric and even the Turbo 4 engines as good as they are will never live up to the sound of a good old V8. Just watch the video of he Venom setting the convertible speed record as it passes by. No Tesla would ever sound that good.

Not so sure about that, but this Worlds Fastest Electric Corvette has that lovely Jet sound as it sets a new world record.

Electric and even the Turbo 4 engines as good as they are will never live up to the sound of a good old V8. Just watch the video of he Venom setting the convertible speed record as it passes by. No Tesla would ever sound that good.

Not so sure about that, but this Worlds Fastest Electric Corvette has that lovely Jet sound as it sets a new world record.

Sorry electric drills and my Dyson V6 vac are just are not sexy sounding either.

Electric and even the Turbo 4 engines as good as they are will never live up to the sound of a good old V8. Just watch the video of he Venom setting the convertible speed record as it passes by. No Tesla would ever sound that good.

Not so sure about that, but this Worlds Fastest Electric Corvette has that lovely Jet sound as it sets a new world record.

Sorry electric drills and my Dyson V6 vac are just are not sexy sounding either.

Car garage smell with oil and gasoline mixed in with rubber tire smell and pneumatic tools with V8 engine sounds in the background are akin to hardware store smell with lumber smells mixed in with paint smells and glues with electric tool sounds such as electric saws and drills....

But that is just me, I guess....

A relic of the past that enjoys being a smelly, hairy, sweaty macho male...

No, I aint metro sexual...nor am I a slob..

But...Im well groomed, very well groomed when the occasion calls for it but I still cling on to the old neanderthal stereotypes that require males to be males...

(I aint accusing you of anything....Im just trying to be entertaining...kinda like Tim the Tool-man Taylor for this post)

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With that said and those that know me know I have all SUVs with V8's. Just the future is cool and I do see us eventually going to EVs. They are cool and in time with tuning and engineers pushing the limits we will see EVs surpass the petrol motor I believe.

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they could do this if they canceled the ATS coupe. The ATS coupe is the 'second ever G6' in terms of looks.....ATS coupe won't sell....but then again neither would this, but the Avista is better looking than the ATS coupe.

both tread on the Camaros property.

Not hardly any market for coupes. Can't make this a sedan either.....we already have a new Regal and Verano coming.

It could be a larger premium rwd awd sedan with coupe like styling.,

Lets face it at a higher price and RWD it would appeal to a different segment and could be sold in lower volumes. This is no different than the Impala going to an Alpha and the Malibu covering the volume in the mid size FWD. The Lacrosse is the major problem but even there two different segments. Lose the FWD impala and keep the Lacrosse and it would gain sales there.

Also make the Alvita sedan a Opel, Vauxhaull and Holden using the same platform as the Impala and TT V6.

Electric and even the Turbo 4 engines as good as they are will never live up to the sound of a good old V8. Just watch the video of he Venom setting the convertible speed record as it passes by. No Tesla would ever sound that good.

Hell....I just saw Smokey and the Bandit for the umpteenth and even a horsepower choking crappy 1970s catalytic converter V8 sounds better than all of those engines mentioned, including the modern Chevy LS engine. (but the LS engine DOES sound goooooood) In some scenes, where the Trans Am is idling, you could hear her V8 engine gurgle....what a sound....and no...that is not Industrial Light and Sound Star Wars sound effects, it really was the Trans Am's 400 cubic inch V8 making those wonderful sounds!

Sorry to burst your bubble but generally in many scenes the sound were dubbed and in many others the engine in the car was not as you would call a Catalytic choked 70's engine.

You may want to note too that the close up car had a auto but in many shots you can see them shifting gears with a standard.

I am a disciple of the movie and know well many of the things they did. Hal spoke at many Pontiac meets telling things about the cars from the movie.

Might note the last shot of the car coming down the hill at the race to deliver the beer. That was the last car they had left and the engine was blown. They coasted down the hill to get into the shot.

I even keep a copy of the movie on my Phone you sumbitch!

Sorry I had to use that some where. At least I did not use Moose Prick. LOL!

At one point they installed an engine from NASCAR. Hal had some friends there and ended up owning a team there after this movie. I think the car that made the bridge jump has a NASCAR Chevy engine in it at the time.

With that said and those that know me know I have all SUVs with V8's. Just the future is cool and I do see us eventually going to EVs. They are cool and in time with tuning and engineers pushing the limits we will see EVs surpass the petrol motor I believe.

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I for one am disappointed with the news that the Buick Avista is not being seriously considered for production. It is s beautiful design and really drew a lot of attention to the Buick display at the NYIAS. Additionally, it breathes new life into Buick. It shows that Buick isn't your father's (or grandfather's) car anymore. The new 2017 LaCrosse and Encore are great looking Buicks, the Envision has potential, and we're waiting to see the next generation Verano, Enclave, and Regal. I think a halo coupe like the Avista would add a vehicle in that white space we hear so much about. The Cascada is a nice car, but not everyone will want a convertible and I'd rather have an Avista Coupe instead.

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